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Yogic Hair Care

"God gave us long hair for a purpose, and He gave it to every human because God wants us to crown ourselves, to have all 26 parts of our skull in a situation so the solar polarity of our skull and brain is entitled to our infinite energy. He created us for that." -Yogi Bhajan 1/15/97

Hair grows on almost all places on the human body, and in the science of yoga, it serves the purpose of drawing energy into each area, and protecting it. Caring for hair as a gift and a resource is another useful yogic tool for everyday, spiritual living.

Function

Hair serves several functions for the human being:

• Maintains the body’s electromagnetic field, acting as antennae for the aura.

• A man’s beard covers the pranic nerve in the chin controlled by the moon. Without hair, the male nervous system cannot handle this energy, while the female’s can.

• Gathers phosphorous and vitamin D from the sun.

• Concentrates solar energy at the pineal gland when worn in a rishi knot (see Covering the Head) at the top of the head.

• Note that wearing bangs over the forehead impedes the transmission of light to the pineal gland through the porous bones of the forehead.

• When kept uncut, the tremendous energy and materials used to build new protein-rich hair instead goes to the brain and other functions of the body.

• Uncut hair encourages rising of the Kundalini energy.

Question: Most Kundalini Yoga students let their hair grow. Is this necessary?

Yogi Bhajan: No. You can practice with any length hair, but the hair was the first technique to raise the Kundalini energy. When the hair is at its natural full length and coiled over the anterior fontanel for men or the posterior fontanel for women, it draws pranic energy into the spine. The force of this downward positive energy causes the Kundalini energy to rise for balance.

Actually, the hair was so important that the word for consciousness, kundalini, derives from the kundal which means “a coil of the beloved’s hair.”

Care

Yogic treatment of your hair ensures it will optimally serve you and your higher purpose.

• Uncut hair collects prana and acts as a filter and shield.

• Includes hair all over the body (e.g. head, legs, armpits, face, etc.).

• Notice how you feel when the hair reaches its natural length. Yes, this can be a big change and take some time!